Operation of a head-mounted wearable device is responsive to whether a state of the device is being worn (donned) or not worn (doffed) on the head. The device may operate in a first mode while donned and a second mode while doffed. A capacitive sensor device having an electrode positioned in a bridge of the device provides output data. The output data is processed to determine a baseline value. Later, acquired output data is compared to the baseline value to determine don/doff data indicative of whether the device is donned or doffed. Data from other sensors, may also be used in conjunction with the output data to improve accuracy of the don/doff data. For example, if the output data is above the baseline value and accelerometer data is indicative of motion greater than a motion threshold, the don/doff data may be designated as donned.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
12. The HMWD of claim 3, wherein the instructions to determine the don/doff data process the first data and the second data using a finite state machine.
The invention relates to a system for monitoring and analyzing the donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, to ensure proper usage and reduce contamination risks. The system addresses the challenge of accurately tracking PPE usage in environments where contamination control is critical, such as healthcare or laboratory settings. The system collects first data from a first sensor associated with the PPE and second data from a second sensor associated with a user. These data streams are processed to determine whether the PPE is being donned or doffed correctly. The processing involves a finite state machine, which evaluates the sensor data against predefined states to identify transitions between donning and doffing actions. The finite state machine ensures reliable detection by systematically comparing the sensor inputs to expected patterns, reducing false positives and improving accuracy. The system may also include additional features, such as alerting mechanisms to notify users of improper PPE handling. The overall goal is to enhance safety and compliance by providing real-time feedback on PPE usage.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 11, 2019
December 13, 2022
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.